David Sedaris

Author

David Sedaris is an American author, humorist, and radio contributor whose essays and stories about his family, his relationships, and his life as an expatriate in France and England have made him one of the most popular and acclaimed humorous writers in the English language. His readings regularly sell out theatres, and his books have... sold millions of copies worldwide. Born in Johnson City, New York in 1956 and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sedaris studied at Kent State University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He gained national attention in 1992 when he read his essay "SantaLand Diaries" — about working as an elf in Macy's department store at Christmas — on NPR's Morning Edition. The piece was a sensation and launched his career. His essay collections — Barrel Fever, Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Calypso, The Best of Me, and Happy-Go-Lucky — are among the funniest and most perceptive works of non-fiction being written today. Sedaris writes about his eccentric family (especially his sisters Amy and Tiffany), his partner Hugh, his life in Normandy and Sussex, and the absurdities of daily life with a combination of wit, self-deprecation, and unexpected emotional depth. His humour is dry, dark, and deeply human. Beneath the comedy, Sedaris is a serious writer — his essays about grief, family dysfunction, and aging are as moving as they are funny. The audiobook editions of Sedaris's collections, read by the author himself, are outstanding — his deadpan delivery, impeccable timing, and ability to shift between hilarity and tenderness make them among the finest audiobooks available. His books and audiobooks are absolutely essential. Read more Show less